Keeping a finger on the pulse of the marketplace only addresses half of the issue, however, "knowing the students on our campus, intentionally creating an atmosphere where they can connect with each other and develop lasting relationships is perhaps one of the most important things we do here at APU," said Franson. To that end, the Board of Trustees recently devoted an entire retreat to learning about current and incoming APU students and developing strategies that build upon an already solid foundation of enriching student experiences and programs.
Through tools such as the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) survey, the National College Health Assessment, chapel surveys, ASB surveys, focus groups, and the Student Satisfaction Inventory, little remains a mystery about today's APU student. "Here is a glimpse of what we know," said Franson. "The number one reason freshmen choose APU is for its foundation in Christian faith. The next reason is academic reputation. Our students desire deeper relationships with one another and with their mentors. They are looking for meaningful engagement in the life of the mind but also want to observe Sabbath, a time when they can rest and renew. They know they don't have all the answers, but they have discovered where to start the search."
That journey spans students' entire time at APU and includes countless daily experiences that add up to a changed life. From the 160 chapel services held annually to the Discipleship Groups (D-Groups) to the missions opportunities (see sidebar), student life at APU teems with purposeful activity.
Adding to the mix, the Board of Trustees discussed new initiatives to impact generations of skilled and compassionate global citizens. Student leaders will start the year with a new Student Leader Covenant based on the model of leadership outlined in I Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9. The leadership community (350+ strong) plans to meet seven times each year to seek God's direction and establish common goals. The Office of Chapel Programs anticipates a new faculty/staff care retreat that will focus on intentional discipleship of APU employees; plans to assign a chaplain to existing groups such as athletic teams, choirs, and living areas to foster discipleship; is brainstorming ideas about how to incorporate discipleship into study abroad programs; developed new D-Groups to reach those with little or no previous Christian experience; and has slated four on-campus mini-retreats for students to strengthen their spiritual formation.
